Bon Iver, 'Bon Iver'

I have tried to write about this album about ten times in the last week. I've felt a mixture of inspiration and wryness because I just know my opinions on each song are most certainly going to change with each listen.

I thought of the term onion music last night because there's just so many layers to the album. With each listen your peeling away a layer to reveal something new.

I stumbled upon a great review of the album done by Rolling Stone, track-by-track, very similar to my song-by-song series on this very blog!

I'll be sure write some more when I get closer to the core of it all. Or maybe as I just go along.

"Holocene" Bon Iver

"At once I knew, I was not magnificent"

Such eloquence.

Pitchfork Preamble one: James Blake vs. Neko Case

Alright, so I've broken down day 1 of the festival and I pretty much know what I'd like to see.

My favourite discovery of the evening has been Guided By Voices. I'm a devout fan already, I can't wait to grab two of their albums tomorrow.

I'm sort of crossed between James Blake and Neko Case as they have conflicting schedule times. I'm leaning towards Neko, although James Blake has some serious hype following him.

NEKO it is.

Get ready, I'm feeling totally inspired by Pitchfork Music Festival. The line-up is very Pitchfork friendly and I don't know many of the acts. But I'm about to have a serious education and last minute cram so I make sure I miss nothing at all. Please keep posted, would ya?

Open Roof Festival featuring The Darcys and the film 'Beauty Day'; Thursday June 30, 2011

I have to give it to the last day of June, it was quite possibly the most lovely evening of my summer yet. It's just one of those evenings you can't really plan, but rather they just sort of happen on their own. This will certainly go down as one of those amazing evenings.

My best pal and I made a very last minute decision to go to the Open Roof Festival, something I put off last year because I discovered it wasn't actually held on a roof. Rather, it's in the back lot of the Amsterdam Brewery on Bathurst just south of Front. Their name isn't entirely off, there is no roof at this venue.

It was made an especially perfect evening because of the weather - a lovely 21 degrees Celsius, perfect for the summer dress. Nicole and I, dressed to the nines took on Toronto.

There was something real surreal about watching a film in the middle of the city buzz.

The Darcys went on around half past eight, the whole idea of these Open Roof sessions is to show the movie right at dusk, so bands kind of leisurely go one with enough time to churn out a few tunes without impeding on the film's spot. This audience was definitely there for the film over the band. It`s kind of not a good atmosphere for a concert as there are seats and terrible terrain to stand on. I feel like it's terrible concert etiquette to sit and watch a band, unless that`s the sort of show. People sat and spoke throughout the gig - not a gig I`d like to play myself.

The sound was mediocre to lousy, although loud enough to carry decently, but i'd credit that to the band`s crisp sound rather than the venues good speakers.  The Darcys did not let me down. I was taking Nicole to see the Darcys for the first time since we had first laid ears on them at the Supermarket in 2008. We both thought they were nothing special. It's really incredible to hear what three years'll do. Times are a changing and things are looking up for this band.

Trouble is they have yet to release an album. How can a band really explode without any material to support what they`re pushing? I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Darcys absolutely need to put an album out, or at very least another EP.

I really love what Zeus has done, they've sort of lagged between releasing their legendary album Say Us and a follow-up, but they have released a couple of EPs to satisfy my needs.

I am happy to report that the fourth song in was a new tune I'd never heard before and it sounded fantastic. This band has definitely not lost steam, they're clearly just being picky with things. I just hope they don't grow bored of their songs before they actually have a chance to really do well.

Now, moving on to the incredible documentary Beauty Day.

Do you use the term "beauty"? I use it time to time when I describe something really great. After seeing this film, it'll definitely work its way more into my daily language.

Meet Ralph Zavadil - a totally off-beat, weird looking guy, the original Jackass. Of St. Catharines, ON, Zavadil probably had a tremendously hard time fitting anywhere, because he has a hell of a lot less shame than anyone else. Zavadil made absurd recordings of stunts he did involving himself. Take the most absurd thing you can possibly think of and Zavadil would probably do it. His program The Cap'n Video Show aired from 1990-1995, with what seemed to have a solid following.


I think this documentary was such a hit with the audience is because Zavadil is human. Humanity really bleeds through in the descriptions and interviews of his life. One can really relate to this man in many surprising ways.

The music throughout this film was selected and mostly made by Justin Small and Ohad Benchetrit, both of the Toronto-based band Do Make Say Think. The song "Major Lift" was used throughout the film, kind of a theme-song for Zavadil almost.



It's always really lovely to see what Do Make Say Think will stick their fingers in.

Further thought:

Do Make Say Think, auteurs?
Documentaries to consider: Jay Reatard doc Waiting For Something and Beauty Day
George Harrison (unrelated)

Bon Iver, Kathleen Edwards at the Dakota Tavern 2010

I promise to never miss a hot gig at the Dakota, who's to say what'll happen:

Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) with his lady friend, Canadian Kathleen Edwards at the Dakota Tavern, August 2010

    

Canada Post, Bon Iver and this month in magazines

Can I say how lucky we are to have a functioning Postal Service? (So important I felt the need to capitalise)

Hooray for Canada Post to be back in action. I was greeted on my way to work by a large package - the new Bon Iver album. I was a little late for work, so I grabbed it and opened it on the drive to work.

It has really taken all of me not to buy this album even though I had purchased it already through the Jagjaguar website. I only technically am a week behind all you Bon Iver addicts.

Yesterday, in sheer anticipation, I purchased the new Spin and Rolling Stone magazines. Fab covers with fab articles, these have to be some of the best music magazine issues that I've stumbled upon in a while. It's really odd to see Bon Iver on the cover of Spin. My friend Nicole was right in posting

Nicole Bakker posted to Kimberley Stemshorn

umm skinny love was on grey's tonight. prepare for him to be huge.

September 26, 2008 at 12:22am

Bon Iver, aka Bon Iver has become a serious household name. Absolutely ridiculous. I am so happy to say that I have seen Bon Iver twice at a tiny dive like Lee's Palace before seeing him at the Sound Academy.

My first real listen to Bon Iver is happening as I type. I love it to pieces already. It's so different from For Emma Forever Ago.

Review to follow this evening. I can't wait to give you my two cents.

Also, in talking about the Canada Post and how much I use our national mail service, please check out the following:


Send More Mail 
Kid Icarus

I've felt so inspired to write letters since stumbling upon these two lovely Toronto-based outlets.

"She's Not There" Nick Cave featuring Neko Case

Woah, wasn't expecting this one. A much overlooked Zombies hit.

This is a little off, definitely a different feel than the original.

Dear Alex: "Girl In Port" Okkervil River

 Please listen to the lyrics of this song, they're just so lovely (and tragic).

Oh, I'm a weak and lonely sort

Though I'm not sailing just for sport

I've come to feel

Out on the sea

These urgent lives

Press against me

I'm just a guest

I'm not a part

With my tender head

With my easy heart

These several years out on the sea

Made me empty, cold, and clear

Pour yourself into me

Free Show: Sarah Harmer, Serena Ryder and the Skydiggers Saturday July 16 at Centre Island

Summer in Toronto is made especially lovely for the free outdoor show series. So far, they've more or less just been at Harbourfront, but I'm happy to say that they've extended it to a free show on Centre Island.

SARAH HARMER, SERENA RYDER and the SKYDIGGERS

Alas, I'll be in Chicago at this time, but I'd really love to see Sarah Harmer live. Can you believe I haven't seen her yet?

I sure can't.

Aretha Franklin vs. The Glenn Miller Orchestra

Better planning may have cut my Friday June 24 evening a little differently. Tomorrow, I'm taking my Grandpa to go see the Glenn Miller Orchestra at Roy Thompson Hall.

Sadly, Aretha Franklin, at the very same time, is playing a free Toronto gig as a part of TD Jazz Festival!!!!!

You can really feel Franklin's youth in this video, she just sounds young:

Dear Alex: "Funeral" Band of Horses

This is the song of the evening:

On Bon Iver

So folks, I'm getting around to listening to the big heavy hitter album of the year. Bon Iver's self-titled beauty, released on Tuesday.

I'm a little behind due to the Canada Post strike, which still has yet to be resolved. I purchased the album online, so I figure it's stuck at some transfer node somewhere in the province. Shucks.

I will probably wrap my ears around it before the week ends though. The people in my life are loving it, but I can't help being blown back to 2008's For Emma, Forever Ago. The real fact of this album was that it really was Forever Ago. I first got wind of it in December of 2007, when a boyfriend at the time told me about a show he was debating on going to at the Horseshoe. About two months later I fell hard for not my boyfriend at the time, but Bon Iver. The boy and I broke up shortly afterwards, no correlation.

NPR is hot. Tons of great old Bon Iver videos and shows if you`re feeling slightly nostalgic like myself.

Vetiver 'The Errant Charm'

Love the artwork for Vetiver's new one:

Jenny Lewis in 'The Hangover Part II'

There's nothing like starting a movie with a good song. Few people probably noticed but the intro song to The Hangover Part II was Jenny Lewis' very laid back tune "Bad Man's World."

Instantly making me a fan of the film. It's one of those disposable films, one time use only.

'Beginners' on my mind

Mike Mills 'Beginners'

So I finally got around to rewatching Beginners in theatres.

I found myself absolutely charmed, yet again, by the film and its music.

The soundtrack has proved very difficult to find in-store and with the Canada Post strike and all. Thankfully, I found a free, live stream online.

Make your day a little better with the lovely music from the film, or just go out and see the film.

Music big-wig Brian Reitzell collaborates for a few tunes on the soundtrack.

Beginners Soundtrack by Beginners Soundtrack

Dear Photograph

Dear Photograph is a website designed around the simple idea of nostalgia for the past. I have to say, it's an idea i'm surprised I didn't of doing myself!

'The Sixites' by Jenny Diski

I'm reading a book called The Sixties by Jenny Diski. The book is one of many from the series "BIG IDEAS//small books." I read this paragraph from the book and completely fell in love with Diski's immense detail and appreciation for film.

I really fell for this in part because I felt something like that after seeing Pierrot le fou at the cinema all alone, just sheer excitement. Beyond that, to love a film enough to see it time afterwards in theatres is an absolutely dynamite feeling.


"Now I filled the gaps of the past at the National Film Theatre, goign to classic silents and Hollywood marvels of the Thirties and Forties. In addition, there was an entirely new cinema to me, from Europe and beyond, to discover. Godard, Fellini, Antonioni, Bergman, Kurosawa, Ozu, Ray, Truffaut, Malle, Pasolini, Polanski, Jiri Menzel. They mattered enough for me to take illicit afternoons off school in order to get to the first matinee showing of 8 1/2 or The Silence at the crucial Academy Cinema in Oxford Street, where I'd sit in the smoky auditorium with fifteen or so other film fanatics, and one or two flashers, overwhelmed by the potent sexual narratives and social critiques, Marxist, psychoanalytic, libertarian or simply different and, to me, astonishing. I absorbed the complexities of relationship, and spiritual or cultural emptiness, played out in tones of grey, with echoes of poets, writers and philosophers. Godard's intensely charming, hopeless and crazy about love film, Pierrot le fou, had me returning eight times during its run. I couldn't take my eyes off a single frame, or miss one step of Monica Vitti's slow, despairing walks through the blighted urban wasteland in Antonioni's Red Desert. I wept sometimes with exaltation, sometimes rage, at the visions coming at me form the Academy screen. And, let me say, all this lived quite easily with my despair at my unsatisfactory hair and concern for the precise shortness of my skirt."

"Girl in Port" Okkervil River

Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes
Let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt
A girl in port

North By North East Preamble

The past four years prior to 2011, I volunteered at Toronto's North by North East music festival. I took tickets and checked wristbands, a short lasting fun position of ultimate music cool. It was a great opportunity to hear bands and get close to the festival, but on the downside I never really got to see bands. The gig did get me a upper crust Priority Pass (retail value $100).

This is the first year that I will get to go to the festival complete unhinged and only limited by my work and sleep schedule.

Here are my top picks for bands that will rock this festival:

The Lower Dens 

Meet the Lower Dens who hail from Baltimore, Maryland. Led by a woman by the name of Jana Hunter, they pack more husk and grit than you'd expect with a female singer. Their music fits the mold of every offbeat independent act going right now (so maybe not so offbeat). Their popular tune "Tea Lights" plays light a Yo La Tengo tune or an easy Deerhunter song. But with Hunter's drone vocals in combination with their intricate guitar noodles, their music somehow comes to life. I'm not going to lie, I bought this album a good six or seven months ago after the combination of hearing them in a Leslieville coffee shop and by a solid recommendation by a friend.



This has to be the first listen where I really feel something.

I think Jana Hunter could give Beach House's Victoria LeGrand a run for her money as far as husky female vocals go.



GO SEE THEM: Wednesday June 15 at 10:00pm at the Garrison or Thursday June 16 at 1:00am at Lee's Palace


Jennifer Castle (Castle Music)

I had the real pleasure of seeing Jennifer Castle play a few tunes at the Dakota last December. Her voice is very distinct, in a pool of female singer-songwriters that all have something to boast. She has a really neat vibrato that comes out real easy, without sounding forced.

She's definitely one of the city's hidden gems.

GO SEE HER: Thursday June 16 at 9:00pm at the Wrongbar; Saturday June 18 at 10:00pm at the Great Hall

Brian Borcherdt 

 I, like most first laid ears on Brian Borcherdt as a member of Holy Fuck. I think years ago I saw him open up for a Canadian act at the Phoenix. His sound is a little slow for my likings, but I'm certain he'll put on a show to dazzle.

Get those heart strings ready to be pulled.

SEE HIM: 918 Bathurst on Thursday June 16 at 9:00pm

Snowblink

I first came across Snowblink on a complete limb. I had nothing to do one evening and stumbled alone into the Tranzac for a surprisingly lovely front-room performance by Snowblink. Having no expectations at all, I was pleasantly surprised by what I came across - a very stripped down quirky girl-guy duo.

As it turns out front woman Daniela Gesundheit moved from California to Toronto in 2008. She however has well-nested in Toronto making music with Alex Lukachevsky and Bruce Peninsula.

Their album Long Live received little attention and a limited release a couple of years ago. It however was re-released and better publicised this go around in 2011. It's kind of nice to have a set of songs that I'm already familiar with.

 Snowblink will surround you with lovely.

SEE THEM: Thursday June 16 at 7:00pm at the Music Gallery

The Cowgirl Choir

Do you remember high school choir? The Cowgirl Choir all of the beautiful girls you'd find in the soprano section but could never sit next to. To accompany, they have an acoustic guitar, but let's face it, these ladies definitely don't need the help.

I saw them last December and they played a string of covers that everyone in the crowd was more or less already familiar with. My personal favourite was a bold cover of "Jolene," that they surprisingly were able to pull of pretty well.

GO SEE THEM: Thursday June 16 at 9:00pm at the Comfort Zone

Forest City Lovers

Four years ago I walked into the old Rotate This location with my Mother and checked out their listening post. A featured selection was a very young Kat Burns' project Forest City Lovers, I bought the album. I kept up with them for the next few years watching her band grow big.

Burns undoubtedly is an artist at heart. She started an art project called An Hour of My Time where she makes a piece of art in no more than an hour and sells it for the national average minimum wage of $24.75. I'm not sure how well she did, but you can read about it here.

But on Forest City Lovers - a real dynamite, minimal sound. Along the same lines as Snowblink, Burns has extremely soft vocals, with very little edge.

Mika Posen of Timber Timbre also use to and may still play with Kat Burns as Forest City Lovers.

GO SEE 'EM: Thursday June 16 at 9:00pm at the Music Gallery

Peter Elkas

For years I have passed Peter Elkas' album in my store, I even think I took in a copy after a pal's garage sale. But it wasn't until last December that I saw Elkas in action. He is quite possibly the most attractive thirtysomething man I've stumbled upon. He has a lovely energetic rock sound that sounds like it could have been plucked off the Grey's Anatomy soundtrack.

GO SEE HIM: Thursday June 16 at 9:00pm at the Rivoli

The Darcys 

The Darcys are a real tight outfit. Last year, they were my pick for the festival - they put on the sweatiest gig I have been to a while at Rancho Relaxo. It was a swift reminder of why I love music so much.

These guys are nursing songs they're well-acquinted with so without a doubt their show will be very smooth sounding. These guys absolutely know what they are doing.

Cash in on this gem before anyone else.

SEE THEM: Friday June 17 at 9:00pm at the Horseshoe Tavern

The James Clark Institute 

James Clark has been around forever, but he's no less cool than any twentysomething hipster. Clark draws from a whole whack of inspirations from sixties rock to current indie, it's pretty obvious who is influences are when you listen to his music.

His fantastic humour really oozes out in his shows, definitely worth a peek.

CATCH HIM AT: Friday June 17 at 10:00pm at Mitzi's Sister

Amos the Transparent

I was really surprised by this band. On a mediocre label UR Artist, this band has really diverged further than the other bands on the label. Last fall, they toured with Arts and Crafts sweethearts Zeus, able to hold their own against such a terrific band.

This band really harps on the good girl guy contrasts that Stars did so well around Set Yourself On Fire. The key difference between the two acts is Amos isn't as fluffy as stars, they've got a bit more complexity and grit.

SEE THEM: Friday June 17 at 11:00pm at the El Mocambo (Upstairs)

Sheezer

All girl band play covers of Weezer circa Pinkerton and Blue Album. Need I say more?

SEE THEM: Friday June 17 at 2:00am at Sneaky Dee's

DEVO

A free DEVO show? For all the flack I have given this band in the past, I can't wait for this gig on Saturday. Don't tell anyone, but I kind of like this band. Another gem to come out of Akron, Ohio.

Hopefully, it won't be as packed as the Iggy Pop show this time last year.

SEE THEM FOR FREE: Saturday June 18 at 9:30pm-11:00pm at Yonge and Dundas Square

Chad Vangaalen

No questions, this is where I'll be Saturday at midnight. The Great Hall is quite possibly one of the most versatile venues I've been to.

This may be the show of the festival. I'm pretty excited.

MARK THE DATE: Saturday June 18 at 12:00am at the Great Hall

NXNE Recommendations?

Hello to all you devoted readers,

I made a really big knob mistake the other day and changed the url from www.knitpen.blogspot.com to www.forthethrees.blogspot.com. My viewership has gone down about 100X, so apparently people don't use www.forthetrees.ca as I hoped!

I think I should take this as a big sign to stop blogging and start a real website.

But for those of you who've stuck on. I would really like to hear your recommendations for NXNE 2011. There's so many bands playing, I couldn't possibly wrap my peanut brain around em'.

Read my two cents in a post to come.

Have a sticky day, it's hooot!

"Prologue" and "Kettering" by The Antlers

This band's the newest to hit my mental library of music. I'm having the pleasure of seeing them tomorrow night, I hope to be blown away. Get through the three minute intro, it's totally worth it. Here's a tune and a half that I really felt upon first listen:



Do you dig it? lemme know.

Also, still on a complete Okkervil River high, "Song For Our So-Called Friend" has such a beautiful slight of word and the muted trumpet....

Okkervil River with Titus Andronicus at the Phoenix; Friday June 10, 2011

Titus Andronicus lived up to their last terrific performance I saw of theirs in California. This band has a gritty rock sound that I'm amazed can do so well in the independent scene. It's probably just because their tunes are fun and upbeat, allowing anyone to enjoy.



They make fun with their repetitive, catchy lines:




After seeing them the first time, I ran out and grabbed their album. In truth, in the two months of owning it, I haven't gotten around to actually listen to it. I'm not sure if I'd listen to Titus outside of the live concert setting. Their music is fun and careless, but I just don't think I could connect with it outside of a live gig.


Okkervil River are a self-assured band with all the poise and confidence in the world. I was absolutely floored by the bands warmth this tour, seeing them is a must. If you ever get the opportunity, please don't pass it up.

They fused together a good mix of old and new, a surprise that made the show exciting and invigorating. The only album they really neglected (beyond the older couple) was The Stand-Ins and I'm perfectly fine with that. The only tune I'd have liked to have heard was "All The Latest Toughs," as they played it before.

I think the main reason I really like Okkervil River is for their sophistication and smooth quality, in terms of sound and lyrics. Will Scheff is an absolutely dapper guy, while his supporting band is comprised of a really talented female guitarist that has a remarkable resemblance to Miranda July. Furthermore, he's got an eclectic support behind him of men around his age of all sorts of looks. So suffice to say, Okkervil is most certainly not a band you go out to gawk at, but rather bask in their musical brilliance.

This band has definitely earned the title of literary rockers which I accredited to Scheff's articulate lyrics.

Half way through the show the band walked off the stage leaving Scheff on his lonesome. He played a very stripped version of "A Stone," as he did the last show. I can't say I wasn't expecting it, but with every performance, I find myself surprised that this song would be played. Don't get me wrong, it is a household favourite, but it's slow and intimate. I guess that's maybe Will Scheff's aim when playing it. At the Toronto show, I felt he shied away from the microphone for the first verse and then really attacked it come the next verse, really working the dynamics. The beauty of "A Stone" is in the eloquent and smooth transition between words that commit to the memory almost effortlessly.

You can actually hear people having musical orgasms in this video taken a month or so prior to the show I just saw. This performance easily leaves people weak in the knees:



And I think that I know the bitter dismay of a lover who brought
fresh bouquets every day
when she turned him away
to remember some knave
who once gave
just one rose, one day, years ago.

This show also had a fabulous momentum to it, they sewed together the old with the new so seamlessly. The last bit of the set you could tell was a giver for the crowd, they played a string of songs that immediately pleased everyone:

"For Real"
"Our Life Is Not A Movie, Or is It?"
"Lost Coastlines"
"Westfall"
"Unless It Kicks"

For the last week or so I have tried very hard to encourage people to make it to this show. For every mix of songs I would write, the closing bit of their set made it. I couldn't think of a better booming ending.

There's really nothing like hearing "Westfall" live with the mesmerising chant of "Evil Don't Look Like Anything." It's pretty outstanding to think that such a stage closer like "Westfall" was off of Okkervil's first full-length.

Evil don't look like anything
 

Mike Mills 'Beginners' out June 17

I can't shake how lovely the film 'Beginners' is. I mailed my friend today saying this is the summer of Lovely. All things lovely.

So, I've gone on about the lovely film 'Beginners' Directed by Mike Mills (husband of Miranda July). The film stars the incredible Canadian Chirstopher Plummer, Ewan MacGregor and the very beautiful Mélanie Laurent. The film is about the revelries of life, some joyous some overbearing.

I fortuantely have the pleasure of watching this film at TIFF '10. I was surprised and warmed inside.



I'm most excited by the booming soundtrack that makes me feel equal parts classy and in love.

Soak it in -

"Stardust" – Hoagy Camichael





"Everything's Made For Love" – Gene Austin



"Bach Suite" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell

"1955" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell

"Sweet Jazz Music" – Jelly Roll Morton





"That Da Da Strain" – Mamie Smith
Note: not the version on the soundtrack, but still lovely.



"Mamanita" – Jelly Roll Morton
Note: couldn't find the original on YouTube, but this is pretty faithful.



"Moon Waltz" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell

"Veronica’s Blues" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell

"Breezin’ Along with the Breeze" – Josephine Baker



"Beginners Theme Suite" – David Palmer, Roger Neill, Brian Reitzell


"Buddy Bertrand’s Blues" – Jelly Roll Morton
Note: I think this is the same song...

plus ones, December 8, 2010 'Where's the Band?' concert in Cambridge, MA

I didn't attend this show, but I sure wish I did. A number of really stunning artists covering many Saves the Day tunes and a great set by Conley himself.

This girl however did go and wrote about it.